TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- The anticipated became reality Friday, as Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner and running back Eddie Lacy collectively announced their intentions to turn pro.

Right tackle D.J. Fluker, who could not attend Friday's press conference, will also turn pro, coach Nick Saban said.

"They've
been good teammates to the players that they've played with. They've both
set a good example with their leadership, how they've affected their
teammates in a positive way. And they've certainly been very, very
effective performers in contributing to the success of our teams," Saban said. "I
think that you guys have gone through the process of what we have set up
here in terms of agent education, the whole NFL experience in terms of
helping their family and themselves making a good business decision of
what they should do at this stage of their career.

"I support what these
young men are doing in terms of what their future is, what their future
will be. I appreciate what they've done for the University of Alabama
but we also acknowledge the fact that from a business standpoint, these
guys are making good decisions about their future and what they can do."

It's the second consecutive year Alabama has seen three players leave early for the NFL. Running back Trent Richardson, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick and linebacker Dont'a Hightower all landed in the first round of the 2012 draft.

Milliner is the only sure-fire first-round pick in the group. The unanimous first-team All-American said he received that sort of projection from the NFL Draft Advisory Board.

"It's been a great experience for me, my three years being here," Milliner said. "I've become a better man."

Lacy and Fluker are projected by many to be off the board by the end of the second round.

"It was a hard decision," Lacy said. "At the end of the day, it was the best decision as far as my family and all of that is concerned."

Saban said Fluker has done an "extremely affective job" during his four seasons at Alabama.

"I'm totally supportive of the decision he's made," Saban said. "We're especially proud of the fact that he's been here four years, too, and he has graduated. We wish D.J. the very best."

Saban said there could be "some other guys" from Alabama's roster who make announcements in the coming days. ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShaywrote on his Twitter account Monday that redshirt sophomore linebacker Adrian Hubbard received a favorable grade from the Draft Advisory Board.

Quarterback AJ McCarron, linebacker C.J. Mosley and right guard Anthony Steen have already announced their intentions to return for 2013.

The deadline for underclassmen to submit paperwork to the NFL is Tuesday.

"I'm hopeful that we're pretty much finished with this but I've been doing this long enough to know that every now and then you get surprised by someone," Saban said. "You've been around this long to know that it's happened on occasion."